Plastic adding machine



Feb. 13, 1951 P. CUMMINS PLASTIC ADDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Seph. 15, 1948 .m cm

INVENTOR. PHILIP CUMMlNS Feb. 13, 1951 P. CUMMINS 2,541,463

PLASTIC ADDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PHILIP CuMMms ATTDRNEY Feb. 13, 1951 CUMMlNs 2,541,463

PLASTIC ADDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVENTOR. Pump CuMMms AT TORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE PLASTIC ADDING'MACHINE Philip Cummins, Morristown, N. J.

Application'September 15, 1948, Serial No. 49,439 3 Claims. (01. 235-44) 'This invention relates to new and useful improvements in adding machines of the type incorporating a line of toothed wheels, one wheel for theunits place, the next for the tens place, the next for the hundreds place, and so on, and also a carry means from a wheel of a lower place to the wheel of next higher place, with each wheel stylus operable incidental to an adding operation.

A particular object of the invention is to provide such an adding machine, and one such that a Wheel may integrally'carry a ten-tooth gear as part of the carry means and yet may be molded of plastic.

A general object of the invention is to pro-' vide an improved adding machine, characterized by absolute accuracy of operation, extreme simplicity of construction, low cost of'manufacture, ruggedness in service, and ease in readily effecting a zero setting.

Another object is to provide such an adding machine, and one which will be small in size, light in weight, and so constituted that not merely the wheels but also at least a major part of the casing may be molded of plastic; while at the same time the metal'parts used may be comprised of such triflingly inexpensive additions as standard coil springs or such economically fabricable elements as simple uniplanar metal stampings.

A feature of the invention is a novel and valuable carry means from one wheel to another, together with a mounting means for a wheel charaoterized by a spring adjunct'therefor acting to apply a ielding thrust axially of such wheel thereby to urge the same toward maintenance of its normal cooperative relation with an adjoining wheel for an adding operation. In connection with the means for thus resiliently acting on a wheel is an auxiliary means normally conditionablefor positively holding said wheel initssaid normal cooperative relation with an adjoining wheel.

Another feature of the invention is an arrangement, including portions of the wheels and portions of said auxiliary means, whereby said auxiliary means may be repositioned thereby to condition all the wheels sothat any wheel may byjstylus pressure thereon-be displaced from its normal'position against opposition of said resilient means, for then temporarily disengaging a carry-tooth on that wheel from its normal engagement with'the ten-tooth gear portion of the next higherplace wheel; thereby to provide a uniquely-"simple mechanism for making zero setting quick and easy.

Another featureof'the invention is that said zerosetting meansmay commonly serve all the wheels and yet be'rof such nature that said means includes a single master element in the formoi a single slide bar which when moved in one direction positively holds each wheel innormal working relation to an adjoining wheel and which when moved in the opposite direction sets up a situation wherein all the wheelsthen remain-in said'normalworking relation merely from yielding thrust of said resilient means.

For further comprehension of the invention, and ofthe objects and advantages thereof, reference'will be'had' to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming amaterial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a now favored embodiment; the same being illustrativelyshown as having six wheels.

Fig. 2-is a similar view, showing a plastic oasing, with its cover plate removed, and-further showing, in full lines, the aforesaid slide bar, and, in dot and dash lines, the six wheels in terms of the maximum diameter of each.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section through the casing; this View additionally showing, in dot and dash side-elevational outline, the three wheels at the extreme left in Figs. 1 and2, and, in dot and dash edge elevation, the annular indicator dials respectively carried thereby.

Fig. 4 is, as tothecasing and its cover plate, a view similar to Fig. 3, but'showing elevationally allsixwheels-with, however, only one of said dials shown, to wit, the one for the wheel at the extreme left.

Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 4, but broken away at its left end and omitting the units place wheel; this view showing the aforesaid slide bar moved to theextreme right, to allow thehundreds place wheel to bedepressed, for zero setting, relative to the thousands place wheel.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the hundreds place wheel.

Fig. (is a side elevationthereof.

Fig. 8is-ia view-similar to Fig. 7, but showing said wheel with its indicator dial secured there- Fig. 9 is a view similar toFig. 6, showing the same parts asin'Fig. 8.

Fig. l0-is atopplan view of said dial.

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of a pair of adjoining wheels, with their carry means.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, showing one of the three like indexing springs seen in Fig. 1; each having dimple formations at opposite ends for acting indexingly relative to each of two adjoining wheels and each also having portions spaced inwardly from said dimple formations for functioning as stylus stops relative to each of said adjoining wheels.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, a slender low-height rectangular casing is provided having thin side and end walls fortified at suitable locations as indicated in Fig. 2 for the application of a plurality of screws 2|, six thereof shown in the present case, in securing a cover plate 22 in place.

Through the cover are six uniformly spaced cylindrical openings (23, Fig. 4). Each of these openings is for rotatively receiving a top reduced cylindrical portion of a different one of each of the six wheels comprised of a units wheel 24, a tens wheel 25, a hundreds Wheel 26, a thousands wheel 21, a ten-thousands wheel 28 and"v a hundred-thousands wheel 29. The said top forma tions of the wheels are all alike, andthey correspond to the top portion (30, Fig. 6) of the hun dreds wheel 26.

1 Each of the wheels 24-29 has a bottom reduced cylindrical portion, these portions being all alike and corresponding to the bottom portion (3 I, Figs. 7 and 8) of the hundred wheel 25. For ro-- tatively receiving said bottom portions of the six wheels, sunk in the bottom wall of the casing 20 are six like cylindrical recesses (32, 33, 34, 35, 35 and 31, Fig. 3), each of these vertically c0ncentrically aligned with the center of one of the open ings 23 in the cover 22.

As indicated (in broken lines, at 38 in Fig. 4), said bottom portions of the six wheels and the portions of the wheels thereabove are tubular for providing upwardly extending cylindrical recesses. Within each of said recesses is an ex-- pansile coil spring, such as the two thereof indicated at 39 in Fig. 4. [Referring to the hundreds wheel 26 of Figs. 6 and 7, that wheel has just below the lower end of its top portion an annular enlargement 40,

and just below such portion 40 the Wheel is con siderably radially expanded to provide a main barrel portion 4|. All the other wheels are similarly shaped, and are of like dimensions in all respects in regard to the portions 40 and 4|, ex-

cept that, as will be noted from Fig. 4, the main barrel portions of the various wheels are of different dimensions axially of the Wheel, such portion of the wheel 29 having the greatest such dimension, such portion of the wheel 28 having the next greatest such dimension, such portion of the wheel 21 having the next greatest such dimension, and so on.

The side of the main barrel portion of the units Wheel 24 is flat, but the sides of said main barrel portions of the other wheels arepartially recessed, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that each wheel incorporates a unique type of ten-tooth gear. As will be noted from a comparison of Fig. 4 with Fig. 11, in which latter view said recesses are marked 42, each recess has an open bottom and an open outer side, said recesses are substantially semi-circular in cross-section, and they are spaced uniformly around the circumference of a wheel. While these gears really operate as spur gears, they have some of the characteristics of a crown gear and may be designated quasi-crown gears.

For coaction with the recesses of such gear of the next higher place wheel, each of the wheels except the one at the extreme left in Figs. 1 and 2 has a carry element, in the form of a single rigidly carried tooth 45, thus constituting each of said wheels a one-tooth gear. All said teeth 46 are identical. In Fig. 11, the tooth 46 of the wheel at the right is shown in full lines as just completing a carry function relative to the next higher place wheel at the left; while said tooth is shown, in dot and dash lines, in its preceding indexed position.

Normally, by the springs corresponding to the aforesaid coil spring 39, all the wheels are maintained as in Fig. 4; so that each wheel has a carry-tooth 46 movable through a circular path at a level insuring coaction of said tooth with the ten-tooth gear of the next higher place wheel.

Normally, also, the parts are thus positively relatively positioned by-the slide bar aforesaid, the same marked 41. This bar is guidingly slid; ably held in place partially by means of a pair of bosses (48, Figs. 2 and 3) shaped up from the bottom wall of the casing 20. Each of said bosses has secured to its top a metal washer 49. The bar 41 has a reduced end extension 50, constituting a finger-piece and extending through a slot 5| in an end wall of the casing. The bar 41 has five uniformly spaced like keyhole-shape openlugs 52 therethrough, and the bar at its endremote from the extension 50 is bifurcated'at 53. As will be noted, the bifurcation 53 is such, and the locations and shapes of the openings 52 are such that, with the bar 41 arranged as in Fig. 2, the bottom reduced portion (corresponding to the portion marked 3| in Fig. '7) of the wheel at the left in Fig. 2 is partially embraced by-the bifurcation 53 and the corresponding portion of each of the other five wheels is partially embraced by the smaller end of one of the openings 52; thereby positively to hold all the six wheels as shown in Fig. 4. This is so, because now said wheels, at the fiat annular bottoms of the cylindrical portions thereof (corresponding to that portion of the wheel 26 of Fig. 7 there marked 54), rest on the top of the bar or slide 41. The wheel portions last referred to will below be called the lesser barrels; it being noted that it is in these that the carr teeth 46 are embedded.

The parts are so proportioned and arranged that, on sliding the bar 41 from its position in Figs. 2 and 4, to the extreme limit of its rightward travel, thereby to bring its shoulders 55 against the adjacent end wall of the casing, the bifurcated end 53 of the bar will be cleared away from the said lesser barrel of the wheel 29, and the larger end of each of the openings 52, which ends are of an interrupted circular outline a few thousandths of an inch greater in diameter than the diameter of said lesser barrel of a wheel, will be brought relative to the associated wheel to a position concentric with the axis of that wheel; Now, with the bar 41 as in Fig. 5, any wheel may be depressed, for zero setting (as will later be explained under the paragraph beginning Zero setting), against the wheel's spring (-39, Fig. 4). The arrangement isfurther such, however, that a wheel does not have to be and cannot be do pressed to an extent to free it from its journalling support at its top in one of the openings 23 of the cover 22.

For stylus effected rotation of any wheel, each wheel at its top is provided with ten recesses, these uniformly spaced around the wheel top, as

shown in Fig. 1. .Nine inf said recesses are substantially cylindrical well-like depressions; which, in the case of the wheel26 of Fig. 7, are theredesignated 56. The tenth of these recesses .is :a radially elongated one, with its outer end open at the periphery of the wheel, as shown .in Figs. fiiandx'i, and there marked 51.

.Any wheeL'by way of any selected one of these tenrecesses of that wheel to which the stylus is appliedpmay .be given a one-tenth,.a two-tenths, .afthree-tenths, up to and including'a nine-tenths fraction .of a revolution, in the direction indidated by the adjacent arrow of Fig. 1, for performing an addition, according to the recess with which the "stylus is engaged at the start of the operation. As will be noted in Fig. 1, the cover 2 2 carries, spaced around each opening 23, the numerals -0, 1, "2, .3, etc. to and through .9, with, :at each opening, each such indicium opposite one of said recesses with the wheel in indexedtposition. Astheparts'are shown in Fig. 1, all the wheels are at zero setting, and they are impositively held at such setting, or at any other setting to which they may be advanced by stylus use, by indexing means in part carried by each wheel.

The indexing means in part carried by a'wheel are comprised of groove-type recesses .arranged alternatively with the ten stylus receiving recesses; with one of the former midway between each two of thelatter. Said index recesses, ten in number, are, as just stated, of groove-like nature, and in the form of radially extending channels; and these, below called the indexing channels, are shown clearly in Figs. 6 and 7 in the case of the wheel 26, and there marked 58.

For cooperating with these channels on each pair of adjoining wheels, three indexing springs (59, Figs. 1 and 12) are provided. The members 59 (omitted from'Figs. 4 and 5 to keep these views as clear as possible) are riveted as indicated in Fig. 1 to the upper side of the cover 22. Said members are so placed that each of the opposite end portions of one thereof projects over the top of a different one of the two wheels 24 and 25, each of the opposite end portions of another thereof projects over a different one of the two wheels 26 and 21, and each of the opposite end portions of the third thereof projects over a different one of the two wheels 28 and 29.

Said spring members 59 are constructed of a light spring metal such as Phosphor bronze or beryllium copper. Each of said members at its opposite end has a downwardly formed dimple (60, Fig. 12), each such dimple overlying the adjacent wheel in a position such that when that wheel is indexed, that is, squarely set at any one of the ten angular positions thereof each spaced from another by 36, the dimple snaps into one of the indexing channels of that wheel.

Also, said spring members 59 provide a pair of stylus engaging stops, at portions of said members corresponding to the portions of the member 59 of Fig. 12 there marked 6!. Note in Fig. 1 that with a dimple of a member 59 engaged with an indexing channel at the top of a wheel, therebyperfectly to index'that wheel, a portion of said member 59 corresponding to one of the portions thereof marked 5| in Fig, 12 is precisely tangential'to a peripheral limit of the adjacent well-like stylus receiving recess of that wheel. Thus when a stylus in that recess has rotated the wheel through the intended fraction of a revolution thereof, the stylus is stopped concurrently with 'the'in'dexing of the wheel.

.As will be understood, the carry teeth -46 .01? the wheels are so placed thereon that as any wheel is turned in the :direction or its adjacent arrow in Fig. 1, from an indexing thereof at 9 to :an indexing thereof at 0 its tooth 46 willmesh with the .ten-tooth-gear portion (Fig. 11) .of the next higher place wheel to advance that wheel through one-tenth of a revolution, that is, to perform the tens-carry. With all the wheels set at zero, as shown in Fig. 1, and 'as assumed in Fig. .2, the relative placements of the five carry teeth 46 will be substantially as indicated in :Fig. 2 in dot and dash lines.

The sum or total registrations during and at the conclusion of an addition operation are displayed through six smaller openings (62, Fig. 12) in the cover 22, one of these openings for each wheel. The numerals to be displayed through the openings 62 are carried by like annular dials such as the one shown at 63 in Figs. 8-10; there being one suchdial for each wheel. Several of the dials'are indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and one thereof in Fig. 4. The dials are very thin, having an inside diameter (interrupted by an inwardly radially extending tongue 64, Figs. 9-l0) for fittin around that portion of its wheel corresponding to the annular enlargement 40 of the wheel 26 of Figs. 6 and 7.

The tongue 64 is of a length and outline to fit keyingly (but not too tightly, for a reason below to be explained) in the bottom of that stylus-receiving recess of the wheel corresponding to the recess 51 (Figs. 6-9) of said wheel '26.

Thus each dial is locked to its wheel for rotation therewith, with, of course, the numerals on a dial 0, l, '2, 3, etc. to and "through 9 properly ,placed thereon so that at each indexing of the wheel, one of said numerals will be displayed at the related opening 6 2 of the cover 22 and that numeral will register the 0 condition, as in Fig. 1, or the digit appropriate to the number of tenths of a revolution said wheel has been advanced in the appointed direction from its zero setting. In other words, each dial is so numbered and placed on its wheel that the digit 0 appears in the adjacent one of the total-viewing openings or windows 62 when the wheel is in such position that it must make one complete revolution in the direction of its related arrow in order for its carry tooth 46 to engage and ,turn the ten-tooth gear of the next higher place wheel.

As indicated in Fig. 1, adjoining dials 63 marginally overlap; this to shorten the length of the device and to facilitate quick viewing of total readings. Such dials may be staggered as indicated in Fig. 3. Assuming that in all the views except Figs. 11-12 the parts are shown substantially to full scale, with the height of the top formation of a Wheel (that is, the formation thereof corresponding to the formation 30 of Fig. '7) as shown, adjoining dials can be staggered, as in Fig. 3, without danger of rubbing against the under side of the cover 22, in view of the fact that the aforesaid annular enlargement of a wheel (that is, the formation corresponding to that marked 40 in Fig. '7) may have a height of approximately .025", and, as already stated, the dials are very thin.

'The operation of the device, in performing addition, should now be clear.

With all the wheels indexed at zero, and-con sequently with all the dials set also at zero, the procedure is to start with the wheel that is the same number of places from the .right as the 7 first digit of the first number to be added; place the stylus in the recess (56, Fig. 6) opposite this one of the adjacent cover-carried digits, and turn the wheel in the direction of the adjacent arrow until the stylus hits the associated stop arm (6|, Fig. 12) of the local member 59. Then, in the same manner, turn the next wheel on the right for the second digit, etc. Proceed in the same way for all the numbers to be added. The total will appear in the windows 62 above the wheels. Before adding, it is of course necessary to return each dial to zero.

Zero setting.-The slide bar 41 is an aid in setting to zero. To set zero, this bar is slid from its position in Fig. 2, to redispose the openings 52 therein and its bifurcated end 53 as already explained. Now one wheel aiter another can be depressed by stylus thrust to disengage the tooth 45 of the depressed wheel from the tentooth gear of the next higher place wheel.

If the gears were not so disengaged, then as each dial was set to zero, the next dial at the left in Fig. 1 would move around one digit. For instance, if the dials read -0-0-2-0-1, then, when the units dial was set to zero, without depressing its wheel, the reading would become 0-O-02-l-0. After zeroing the tens dial, the reading would become O00-3-00. After the next step, the reading would become 0-0-l0-O0, etc. Depressing the wheels disengages the gears and eliminates this interaction of the dials. Thus, starting with the reading O-0-02-0-1, it is necessary to reset only the units and hundreds dials, without going down the line and turning all six wheels.

After the dials have been set to zero, the coil springs 39 return the wheels to operating position, so that the slide bar can be pushed in to support them. The axial support provided by said bar eliminates the danger of the wheels being inadvertently depressed while adding.

In setting zero, it may be pointed out that with the dials overlapping as in Figs. 1 and 3, there should be a provision for preventing damage to the dials when a wheel is depressed to set zero. To achieve this, the tongue (64, Fig. of the dial must have a relatively loose fit in the recess (51, Fig. '7) engaged by it. This will allow the wheel to be depressed without carrying the dial down with it.

A further aid in setting zero is provided by a colored dot 65. This dot on each wheel is placed by the'well-like stylus receiving recess which is at the stop arm afforded by a spring member 59 when 0 is at the adjacent total window 62. Therefore, whatever digit shows in that opening, zero may be set by inserting the stylus in the recess marked by the dot, and turning the wheel until the stylus hits said stop arm.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An adding machine of the character described, comprising a plurality of wheels mounted for rotation each about one of a plurality of parallel axes all substantially in line, ten formations at the top of each wheel uniformly spaced circumferentially thereof and so shaped that any one of which is adapted to be engaged by a stylus or the like whereby said wheel may be fractionally rotated, a fixed structure having openings through which the tops of the wheels extend, said structure carrying around each opening a uniformly spaced series of indicia starting with 0 and then proceeding in regular numerical sequence from 1 to and through 9, an annular dial carried by each wheel for rotation there with and having circumferentially thereon a like series of indicia arranged in the same sequence, said dials being so arranged on the wheels that when all the wheels are indexed in zero position the zeros of all the dials are in a line substantially parallel to the first-named line, said fixed structure having auxiliary openings each for display ing one of the indicia of a different dial with the thus displayed indicium of each dial representing quantitatively the number of tenths of a revolution the associated dial has been rotated from its zero setting, there being a, carry means between the wheels of pairs of adjoining wheels, each such means partially carried by one wheel and partially carried by the next higher place wheel, said wheels having barrel like portions below their tops and said carry means being near the bottoms of said barrel like portions, said carry means including a one-tooth gear carried by one wheel and a ten-tooth gear carried by the next higher place wheel, the spaces between the teeth of said ten-tooth gear being open at the bottom of said barrel like portion, and there being journalling means for each wheel carrying a one-tooth gear and adapted to permit said wheel to be axially moved to depress the same to move said one-tooth gear out of meshing relat tion to the ten-tooth gear of the next higher place wheel.

2. An adding machine of the character described, comprising a plurality of wheels mounted for rotation each about one of a plurality of, parallel axes all substantially in line, ten forma tions at the top of each wheel uniformly spaced circiunferentially thereof and so shaped that any one of which is adapted to be engaged by a stylus or the like whereby said wheel may be. fractionally rotated, a. fixed structure having openings through which the tops of the wheels extend, said structure carrying around each opening a uniformly spaced series of indicia starting with 0 and then proceeding in regular numerical sequence from 1 to and through 9, an annular dial carried by each wheel for rotation thsrewith and having circumferentially thereon a like series of indicia. arranged in the same sequence, said dials being so arranged on the wheels that when all the wheels are indexed in zero position the zeros of all the dials are in a line substantially parallel to the first-named line, said fixed structure having auxiliary openings each for displaying one of the indicia of a different dial with the thus displayed indicium of each dial representing quantitatively the number of tenths of a revolution the associated dialhas been rotated from its zero setting, there being a carry means between the wheels of pairs of adjoining wheels, each such means partially carried by one wheel and partially carried by the next higher place wheel, said wheels having bar-.

rel like portions below their tops and said carry.

means being near the bottoms of said barrel like portions, said carry means including a onetooth gear carried by one wheel and a ten-tooth gear carried by the next higher place wheel, the

spaces between the teeth of said ten-tooth gear.

being open at the bottom of said barrel like portion, and there being journalling means for each wheel carrying a one-tooth gear and adapted to permit said wheel to be axially moved to depress the same to move said one-tooth gear out of meshing relation to the ten-tooth gear of the next higher place wheel, and resilient means for normally urging each. such depressible wheel to elevated position to maintain such mesh, and there also being a means manually settable to positively hold such a depressible wheel in elevated position thereby to disable the yield of said resilient means and also manually settable to restore the yield of said resilient means 3. An adding machine of the character described, comprising a plurality of wheels mounted for rotation each about one of a plurality of parallel axes all substantially in line, ten formations at the top of each wheel uniformly spaced circumferentially thereof and so shaped that any one of which isadapted to be engaged by a stylus or the like whereby said wheel may be frac.

tionally rotated, a fixed structure having openings through which the tops of the wheels extend, said structure carrying around each opening a uniformly spaced series of indicia starting with and then proceeding in regular numerical sequence from 1 to and through 9, an annular dial carried by each wheel for rotation therewith and having circumferentially thereon a like series of indicia arranged in the same sequence, said dials being so arranged on the wheels that when all the wheels are indexed in zero position the zeros of all the dials are in a line substantially parallel to the first-named line, said fixed structure having auxiliary openings each for displaying one o; the indicia of a different dial with the thus displayed indicium of each dial representing quantitatively the number of tenths of a revolution the associated dial has been rotated from its zero setting, there being a carry means between the wheels of pairs of adjoining wheels, each such means partially carried by one wheel and partially carried by the next higher place wheel, said wheels having barrel like portions below their tops and said carry means being near the bottoms of said barrel like portions, said carry means including a one-tooth gear carried by one wheel and a ten-tooth gear carried by the next higher place wheel, the spaces between the teeth of said tentooth gear being open at the bottom of said barrel like portion, and there being journalling means for each wheel carrying a one-tooth gear and adapted to permit said wheel to be axially moved to depress the same to move said onetooth gear out of meshing relation to the tentooth gear of the next higher place wheel, and resilient means for normally urging each such depressible wheel to elevated position to maintain such mesh, and there also being a means manually settable to positively hold such a depressible wheel in elevated position thereby to disable the yield of said resilient means and also manually settable to restore the yield of said resilient means, said manually settable means incorporating a slide bar having openings therethrough.

PHILIP CUMMINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 431,365 Lang July 1, 1890 689,255 Walsh Dec. 17, 1901 1,147,034 Michael July 20, 1915 1,198,851 Key Sept. 19, 1916 1,410,507 Ray Mar. 21, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 173,801 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1935 572,579 France Feb. 23, 1924 

